Method and apparatus for peritoneal hypothermia and/or resuscitation

ABSTRACT

Embodiments of the invention provide apparatus, systems and methods for introducing fluids into a body cavity for hypothermic, resuscitative, or other treatment. One embodiment provides an apparatus for introducing fluids into a peritoneal cavity comprising an access device for insertion into subcutaneous tissue, an infusion member and an advancement member. The access device includes a lumen, a proximal end, a tissue penetrating distal end and a stop for controlling the depth of the distal end into tissue. The infusion member includes an infusion lumen, a removal lumen and at least one sensor and is advanceable from a lumen of the access device into the peritoneal cavity. The advancement member is removably positionable in an infusion member lumen and has sufficient column strength to advance the infusion member tip through abdominal wall tissue into the peritoneal cavity. When the advancement member is removed, the infusion member tip is substantially atraumatic.

CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of priority U.S. Provisional PatentApplication Ser. No. 60/728,785 filed on Oct. 21, 2005, the fulldisclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention

Embodiments of the invention relate to apparatus and methods forproviding therapeutic hypothermia treatment to a patient. Morespecifically embodiments of the invention relate to apparatus andmethods for providing therapeutic hypothermia to a patient as well asresuscitation using extracorporeal peritoneal circulation.

Hypothermia has been shown to provide distinct medical benefits tostroke and cardiac arrest patients by limiting the size of theinfarction and related tissue injury if initiated soon enough and if thelevel of cooling is significant enough. Both of these limitations,initiation of and depth of cooling, have made practical application ofthe technology quite challenging particularly in an ambulance or otheremergency settings in the field. Initiation of cooling, for example, isa major issue since most technologies require sophisticated machinerythat would be difficult to place in ambulance so the patient, at best,receives the hypothermic benefit some time after they reach thehospital. Of the technologies that can be initiated in the field,though, such as cooling blankets, cooling caps, etc., the depth ofcooling is a major issue due to surface area limitations, complications(such as intense shivering response) and patient access issues (once theblanket is on, it may be difficult to access the patient).

Thus, there exists a need for improved devices for rapidly producinghypothermia to treat stroke, severe cardiac events and relatedconditions, particularly in field settings.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Embodiments of the invention provide apparatus, systems and methods forachieving therapeutic hypothermia using minimally invasive access of theperitoneal cavity or other body cavity. Such embodiments can useminimally invasive methods to deliver and circulate hypothermicsolutions to the peritoneal or other body cavity to reduce bodytemperature to a selected level for treatment of a number of medicalconditions where there is diminished perfusion to one or more locationsin the body. Such conditions can include various cardiac conditionsincluding myocardial infarction and cardiac arrest; cerebral conditionsincluding stroke and head trauma; and various hemorrhagic events due toarterial dissection or rupture or trauma. Particular hypothermicregimens (e.g., temperature and rate of cooling) can be employed totreat particular conditions e.g. stroke vs. myocardial infarction so asto reduce the amount of ischemic reperfusion injury to vital organsresulting from the particular ischemic event. Also, embodiments can havehypothermic regimens for various surgical procedures to reduce theamount of post-surgical inflammation and to provide a tissue protectiveeffect so as to extend the operating times for various procedures whichrequire reduced perfusion at the surgical site or throughout the body.Examples of the latter application can include open-heart procedureswhere the heart can be cooled to allow for longer periods where theheart is arrested and neurosurgical procedures to provide aneuro-protective effect for tissue at or near the operative site.Selection of a particular hypothermic regimen can be made by the userfrom a database of regimens stored in memory resources within a systemcontrol unit (e.g., a console) or otherwise electronically coupled tothe system either directly or wirelessly. In particular embodiments, thehypothermic regimen can be stored in a flash memory or othernon-volatile memory device coupled to a disposable catheter set or kitused by the system. The memory device could then interface and uploadthe regimen to the control device, for example a docking station thatthe flash memory device plugs in to. RF and other wireless interfaces tothe system control device using BLUE TOOTH or another protocol are alsocontemplated.

These and related embodiments can also be utilized for patientresuscitation from various ischemic, hemorrhagic events (e.g., stroke,or cardiac arrest) as well as shock through the use of peritonealtherapeutic solutions which can be used to oxygenate ischemic tissue,reduce reperfusion injury, and increase blood pressure by exerting acompressive force against the peritoneal or other body cavityvasculature. Such therapeutic solutions can include various peritonealdialysis solutions which can comprise nutrients and one or morereperfusion injury protective agents. Also, the solution can compriseoxygenated solutions such as oxygenated flourocarbon solutions that canbe configured to deliver sufficient oxygen to tissue (by gas exchangewith peritoneal or other surrounding tissue) to at least partially meetthe oxygen demands of the body. For embodiments of the invention used totreat shock, the solution need not be chilled and can actually bewarmed.

Also, many embodiments of the invention can be configured as a portablebody cavity infusion/hypothermic system that can be readily transportedin an ambulance, carried and used at a trauma scene by EMT's, militarymedics and emergency room personnel. Thus, one or more components of thesystem can include a handle, or the entire system can be integrated intoan assembly having a handle. Further, as described herein, embodimentsof a portable system can be configured for ease of use so as to requireminimal set up time and manual dexterity by medical personnel. Forexample, embodiments of the system can use a sub-cutaneous access devicethat uses a stop or other means to control the depth of penetration intosubcutaneous tissue so that the user need not have to precisely positionthe access device. This access device can be used in conjunction with aninfusion catheter having a sensor configured to alert the user when thecatheter has entered the peritoneal cavity so as to minimize oreliminate the risk of injuring a peritoneal organ. The infusion cathetercan make use of quick connections for rapid connection to liquid and gassources, fluid collection devices and other system components. Thesubsequent infusion and thermal control of fluids can then be automatedthrough use of a computer controller or other electronic controller. Inuse, such embodiments provide a system with a fast set up time, highdegree of reproducibility, and requires minimal dexterity and trainingof medical personnel.

One embodiment of the invention provides an apparatus for accessing andintroducing fluids into the peritoneal or other cavity of a patient toproduce hypothermia. The apparatus comprise an access device configuredto be inserted into subcutaneous tissue, an infusion member and anadvancement member. The access device includes a lumen, a proximal end,a tissue penetrating distal end and a stop. The access device caninclude a surgical port device. The stop is configured to control thepenetration depth of the distal end of the access device into tissue,such as the subcutaneous tissue of the abdominal wall or other tissuewall. The stop can also include an adhesive or suture opening to affixor otherwise immobilize the access device on the surface of the skin.The stop can also be adjustable (e.g. by indexing) to allow the user toselect the penetration depth. By controlling the penetration depth ofthe access device, the stop serves to make the insertion procedure morereproducible, less technique dependant, and reduces the risk of overinsertion.

In various embodiments, the distal end of the access device can also betransformable from a tissue penetrating configuration to a non-tissuepenetrating safety configuration. This can be achieved by configuringthe distal end to be retractable, to be shearable (e.g., by theadvancement member) or to have an overlying movable sheath which iswithdrawn during advancement and covers the distal end once the accessdevice is positioned. In use, the transformable distal end serves tofurther improve the safety of the insertion procedure by reducing therisk of inadvertent tissue injury once the access device is positioned.

The infusion member can be positioned within a lumen of the accessdevice and be advanceable into the peritoneal or other body cavity. Theinfusion member can include a tissue penetrating distal end to allowadvancement from subcutaneous tissue into the peritoneal cavity. The tipcan be constructed from flexible materials such that when it is notsupported by the advancement member it is substantially atraumatic. Thetip or other portion of the infusion member can also include one or moresensors configured to sense one or more of flow through the infusionmember, pressure or temperature. In particular embodiments, the sensorcan be a flow or pressure sensor configured to determine when the tiphas entered the peritoneal or other cavity so as to minimize the chancesof injuring a peritoneal organ during infusion member advancement.

Typically, the infusion member will includ a first lumen and a secondlumen for the infusion and removal of fluid into and out of theperitoneal or other cavity. Additional lumens are also contemplated, forexample for a guide wire, introduction of medicaments or as dedicatedsensing lumens. The lumen can be can extend over all or a portion of thelength of the infusion member. The first lumen or infusion lumen allowsfor the infusion of hypothermic solutions (also called infusate) intothe peritoneal cavity so as to produce selected amounts of hypothermiafrom heat exchange with the hypothermic solution, the peritoneal organsand tissue. In various embodiments, the infusion lumen can be sized toallow the delivery of sufficient hypothermic solutions into theperitoneal cavity to produce a drop in body temperature of 3° C. or morewithin ten minutes or less. Lumen sizes to produce temperaturereductions of 5 or even 10° C. are also contemplated. The second lumenor removal lumen can be sized to allow for the removal of solution at arate equal to that infused. The removal lumen is desirably notcontinuous to the very tip of the infusion member to allow for theadvancement member to have a surface to push against so as to advancethe infusion member. Alternatively, the removal lumen can neck down nearthe distal end of the infusion lumen so as to be able to hold theadvancement member by an interference fit.

Typically, the infusion member will include one or more aperturescoupled to the first and second lumen. Those coupled to the first lumencan be positioned at the distal end of the infusion member for theoutflow of the infusate solution. The aperture(s) can be positioned soas to reduce the likelihood of obstruction by tissue when the infusionmember is advanced, for example by positioning the aperture on a side ofthe tip or placing the aperture behind a barrier coupled to the infusionmember. The apertures coupled to the second lumen can comprise aplurality of apertures distributed along a length of the distal portionof the infusion member. The spacing of the apertures can be configuredto maintain patency of at least a portion of the apertures when insertedin the peritoneal cavity, and still maintain the flexibility andstructural integrity of the infusion member.

In particular embodiments, the infusion member can comprise a flexiblecatheter fabricated from flexible biocompatible polymers known in theart, such as silicone or polyurethane. In a preferred embodiment, theinfusion member comprises a dual lumen flexible infusion catheter, withone lumen for infusion of various solutions and a second for removal.Also, the distal tip or other portion of the infusion catheter can betapered to provide additional flexibility. The proximal end of thecatheter can include a luer lock or other fitting or adapter (e.g., a Yadapter) for quick connection to one or more fluid, gas, pressure andvacuum sources, and fluid receptacles. The proximal end or otherportions of the catheter can also include a flash memory device (with anembedded infusion control/hypothermic regimen software module) thatplugs into a system control device described herein. Also, the infusioncatheter can be configured to be kink resistant for example through theuse of braiding (internal or external) or other supporting means.Braiding can also be configured to provide for use of higher infusionpressures, for example during rapid infusion of a bolus of hypothermicsolution.

The advancement member is removably positionable in at least one of thetwo lumens, and desirably has sufficient column strength to advance theinfusion member through the abdominal wall or other tissue and into theperitoneal cavity by manipulation of a proximal portion of the infusionmember or the advancement member. Ideally, the advancement member has alength such that the proximal end of the advancement member extends pastthe proximal portion of the infusion member (when fully inserted intothe infusion member) so that the proximal end of the advancement membercan be readily manipulated by the user. Desirably, the advancementmember will have a handle or grip at it's proximal portion. The diameterof the advancement member is sized such that it can be readily advancedor withdrawn from the infusion member with minimal, or in some cases,slight resistance. In various embodiments, the advancement member can befabricated from various metals such as stainless steal or rigid polymersknown in the art. In addition to having sufficient column strength toadvance the infusion member, the advancement member can also beconfigured to have sufficient column strength to push (i.e., shear)through the inner distal end of embodiments of the access device thathave a shearable distal end.

Typically, the advancement member will be positioned in the removallumen so as to allow for flow of solution through the infusion lumenduring advancement of the infusion catheter. Also, the infusion membercan have a touhy-borst type of adjustable valve positioned around theadvancement member to form a fluidic seal around the advancement memberduring movement or when stationary. The valve can also be configured tofluidicaly seal the proximal end of the removal lumen when theadvancement member is not in place. The adjustable valve can beconfigured to not only form a fluidic seal around the advancementmember, but also to hold the advancement member in place within theinfusion catheter. This allows the user to selectively position theadvancement member in the infusion catheter during advancement of thelatter. This positioning, in turn, can allow the user to select theamount of flexibility or stiffness of the distal portions of theinfusion catheter.

An exemplary embodiment of a method for using one or more of the aboveembodiments to deliver fluid to a body cavity of a patient forhypothermic or other treatments can comprise inserting the access portor other access device a controlled depth into a tissue wall of thepatient. The access port can then be fixed in place via an adhesive orthrough use of a suture put through tissue and a suture eyelet or otheropening on the access port. An infusion catheter or other infusionmember can then be through the access port utilizing through use of arigid advancement member positioned in the infusion catheter. The pointwhen the distal tip of the infusion member enters the body cavity canthen be determined using one or more sensors configured to senseproperties such as force, pressure or fluid flow rate through theinfusion member. In the latter two cases, the infusion member can beconnected to the fluid pressure source during advancement with entrydetermined by an increase in flow rate or a decrease in pressure. Onceentry is sensed, a control unit coupled to the senor can output an audioalarm or other signal to medical personnel to alert them of the entry sothey can stop advancing the infusion member to prevent penetrationinjury of organs within the cavity. The advancement member is thenremoved from the infusion member so as to render the distal tip of theinfusion member substantially atraumatic. Various hypothermic, nutrientand other solutions can then be infused into the cavity through theinfusion member to achieve a desired hypothermic, resuscitative or othermedical effects or a combination thereof. In various embodiments, thismethod can be used to infuse fluid into a peritoneal cavity to achieve adesired level of hypothermia for treating one or more of cardiac arrest,myocardial infarction, stroke, head or other trauma, hemorrhage orpost-surgical inflammation. Similar effects can be achieved by infusingsuch fluids into the pleural or other body cavity.

Another embodiment provides an apparatus for accessing and introducingfluids into a peritoneal cavity of a patient in order to achieveselected levels of hypothermia. The apparatus comprises an access deviceconfigured to be inserted through the abdominal wall and into theperitoneal cavity, an infusion member positionable within a lumen of theaccess device and advanceable into the peritoneal cavity. The accessdevice includes a lumen, a proximal and a distal end having a tissuepenetrating configuration and a non-tissue penetrating safetyconfiguration. The access device is transformable to the safetyconfiguration upon penetration through an abdominal wall. The infusionmember includes at least one lumen for the infusion or removal of fluidinto or out of the peritoneal cavity. The lumen is sized to deliversufficient fluid to the cavity to reduce the patient's body temperatureby at least about 3° C. through heat exchange with peritoneal tissue.

Another embodiment provides a system for producing hypothermia in apatient comprising the above apparatus; a fluid reservoir operativelycoupled to infusion member; a pressure source operatively coupled to thereservoir; a vacuum source operatively coupled to infusion member; atleast one sensor operatively coupled to at least one of the pressuresource, the vacuum source or the infusion member; a control unitoperatively coupled to at least one of the pressure source, the vacuumsource, the infusion member or the at least one sensor. At least onevalve can also be operatively coupled to the control unit and one of theinfusion member or the pressure source. The valve can be a control valveand can be configured to control fluid flow to or from the peritonealcavity, responsive to a signal from the control unit. A cooling devicesuch as a peltier cooling device can be operatively coupled to the fluidreservoir or the infusion member. The cooling device is configured tocool fluid within, for flowing from the fluid reservoir.

The pressure source is configured to deliver fluid from the reservoirthrough the infusion member and into the peritoneal cavity. The pressuresource can comprise a compressed gas source, an oxygen pressure source,a compressed oxygen source, a pump or a gravity generated pressuresource (e.g., an I.V bag on a pole). The vacuum source is configured toprovide sufficient vacuum pressure for removing fluid from theperitoneal cavity and can be generated by a vacuum pump or can be anexternal source. The sensor can comprise a pressure, temperature or flowsensor. The control unit can be configured for controlling one or moreaspects of the process used to produce hypothermia such as the infusionand removal of the hypothermic solution, temperature control andoxygenation of the solution, the infusion pressure and the vacuumpressure and the total amount of solution infused and removed from theperitoneal cavity. The control unit can include logic resources such asa processor, as well as memory resources. The control unit can also beconfigured to interface with logic and memory resources (such as flashmemory) coupled to the infusion member or other system component.

An exemplary embodiment of a method of using the above system cancomprise inserting the access port or other access device a controlleddepth into an abdominal wall of the patient. The access port can then befixed in place as described above. An infusion catheter or otherinfusion member can then be advanced through the access port using anadvancement member until the user receives an audible alarm or othersignal indicating the tip of the infusion catheter has entered theperitoneal cavity, as described above, so that advancement is stoppedbefore contact with the peritoneal organs is made, reducing oreliminating the risk or peritoneal organ injury (Peritoneal injury canalso be mitigated blowing air through the infusion catheter duringadvancement to push away any peritoneal organ tissue). The advancementmember can then be removed to render the tip of the infusion catheteratraumatic. The user can then continue to advance the infusion cathetera desired amount in the cavity (e.g., to position catheter, apertures orsensors in the cavity) without the risk of tissue injury. This can befacilitated by the placement of depth markings on the catheter shaft.

The temperature of the patient can then be monitored using temperaturesensors positioned on the infusion catheter, as well as other locationsin the body such as the tympanic membrane, or an intravenous site.Various hypothermic, nutrient and other solutions can then be infusedinto the cavity through the infusion member wherein an infusionparameter, such as flow rate or total infused volume, is controlledusing the monitored temperature. The hypothermic solution then cools theperitoneal organs and other peritoneal tissue so as to reduce thepatient's temperature to a selected level. In various embodiments, thepatient's body temperature can be reduced in the amount of 3, 5, 10° C.or greater. In preferred embodiments, the patient's temperature can bereduced to a range between about 32 to 34° C. Temperature reduction canbe done in ten minutes or less depending on the desired level of coolingand the particular condition to be treated. Faster rates of cooling canbe selected depending upon the severity of the patient's conditionand/or how soon the patient is first treated after a particular medicalevent (e.g., heart attack). Also, a database of cooling rates can bedeveloped and used which takes into account the particular medicalcondition, vital statistics of the patient (e.g. weight and age) and theestimated time post event (e.g., time from the onset of stroke). Thedatabase can be developed for both populations (e.g., all heart attackpatients) and sub-populations of patients (e.g., those over 65).

Infusion can be performed in a variety of modes. It can be done rapidlyusing a bolus of hypothermic solution, or it can be done more gradually,or a combination of rapid and slower infusion modes can be used. Inpreferred embodiments, a bolus of solution is infused so as to expandthe peritoneal cavity and the space between peritoneal organs so as toincrease the peritoneal tissue surface area available for heat and masstransfer with the hypothermic or other solution. In various embodiments,the bolus can comprise between about 0.5 to three liters of hypothermicsolution in the temperature range from −10 to 20° C. In a preferredembodiment, about two liters of 4° C. solution is delivered in about tenminutes or less.

The delivery of the bolus can be followed by a mode where fluid isinfused at a slower rate and then removed with infusion and removalrates based on temperatures measured in the peritoneal cavity andelsewhere in the body. The two modes of delivery can also overlap. Ratescan be controlled through the use of an automated valve and/or automatedpump. Desirably, the infusion and removal rates are also controlled tokeep a sufficient proportion of the bolus volume in the peritonealcavity to maintain the cavity in the expanded state for enhanced heatand mass transfer with the infused solution. The infusion and removalrates can also be controlled to assure that there is not overfilling orexcessive pressure buildup within the peritoneal or other cavity. Thiscan be facilitated by monitoring pressures within the peritoneal cavityand/or the pressures within the infusion catheter. In other embodiments,expansion of the peritoneal cavity can also be achieved through the useof compressed air (e.g., using compressed gas source 92) in aninsufflation technique known in the art to create a pneumoperitoneum.

Infusion and removal can be performed concurrently or in a cycled modeof flow where there is a duty cycle of infusion and removal periods. Theduration of each period and any interval between can be selected toenhance heat and mass transfer with peritoneal tissue as well asmaintain a desired volume of fluid in the peritoneal cavity. Also, theperiods of infusion and removal can be synchronized with one or both ofheart rate and respiration to optimize flow rates as well as heat andmass transfer with peritoneal tissue. For example, infusion can bysynchronized with expiration and/or removal with inspiration. Thisallows embodiments of the invention to take advantage of the expansionof the peritoneal cavity that occurs during expiration to more readilyinfuse fluid into the cavity (due to decreased fluidic resistance) andalso the contraction of the cavity that occurs during inspiration toassist in removing fluid from the cavity. In this way, embodiments ofthe invention can use the motion of respiratory cycles to assist andoptimize the inflow and removal of fluids from the peritoneal cavity.This, in turn, requires reduced power for the pumping and removal offluids resulting in a lighter weight hypothermic infusion system withextended operating life.

Also in various embodiments, the rate of hypothermic solution infusion,cooling rate and patient temperature can be titrated to treat specificmedical conditions. For example, cooling rates and temperatures can betitrated to reduce the amount of coronary ischemic injury, or cerebralischemic injury from myocardial infarction, cardiac arrest, stroke orother coronary/cerebral ischemic events; or to reduce an amount ofischemic tissue injury resulting to a tissue extremity. The coolingrates and temperatures can also be titrated to reduce the amount ofinflammatory response from a surgical procedure such as a cardiovascularor neural surgical procedure.

Further details of these and other embodiments and aspects of theinvention are described more fully below, with reference to the attacheddrawing figures.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic view illustrating an embodiment of a peritonealhypothermia system.

FIG. 2 a is an elevation view illustrating an embodiment of theperitoneal hypothermia system applied to a patient with an infusioncatheter and IV temperature sensor.

FIG. 2 b is an elevation view illustrating an attached peritonealhypothermia system having a separate outflow collection bag.

FIG. 2 c is an elevation view illustrating various options for placementof a temperature sensor on the body.

FIG. 2 d is a lateral view showing a configuration of the fluidreservoir, cooling device and waste container in which the waste fluidis used as a heat sink.

FIG. 2 e is an elevation view illustrating an embodiment of a portablesystem unit which includes multiple components of a peritonealhypothermia system, such as the control unit, fluid reservoir, wastecontainer and a battery.

FIG. 3 a is a lateral view illustrating an embodiment of the infusioncatheter.

FIG. 3 b is a lateral sectional view illustrating the distal portion ofan embodiment of the infusion catheter having infusion and removalapertures positioned to reduce clogging by peritoneal tissue.

FIG. 3 c is a lateral sectional view illustrating the distal portion ofembodiment of the infusion catheter having a longer length for itsinfusion lumen than its removal.

FIG. 3 d is a lateral sectional view illustrating the distal portion ofan embodiment of an infusion catheter having infusion/removal apertureswith features to reduce to clogging by peritoneal tissue.

FIGS. 4 a-b are side and top views illustrating an embodiment of anaccess and infusion apparatus including an access device and infusioncatheter advanceable through the access device.

FIG. 4 c is a sectional view illustrating the distal portion of anaccess and infusion apparatus having an advancement member for advancingthe infusion catheter.

FIG. 4 d is a sectional view illustrating the proximal portion of anaccess and infusion apparatus having an advancement member with a handlefor advancing the infusion catheter.

FIGS. 5 a-5 b are lateral views illustrating an embodiment of an accessport having a trocar tip.

FIG. 5 c is a lateral view illustrating an embodiment of an access porthaving a hinged tip.

FIGS. 5 d and 5 e are lateral views illustrating uses of embodiments ofan access port having a hinged tissue tip (FIG. 5 d) or a retractabletissue penetrating tip (FIG. 5 e.).

FIGS. 5 f and 5 g are lateral views illustrating uses of an access porthaving a shearable tip.

FIGS. 6 a-6 e are lateral views illustrating use of an embodiment of aninfusion catheter having a protective sheath.

FIGS. 7 a-7 e are lateral views illustrating uses of pressurized air toprevent tissue injury during catheter advancement.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Embodiments of the invention provide apparatus, systems and methods forproviding therapeutic hypothermia through minimally invasive access tothe peritoneal cavity. Many embodiments provide a system for providinghypothermia, resuscitation or other treatment in response to stroke,myocardial infarction, blood loss or any condition resulting indecreased perfusion to one or more locations in the body, including bothinternal organs and the extremities.

Referring now to FIGS. 1-5, an embodiment of a system 10 for thedelivery of hypothermic or other fluid 20 to a peritoneal or othertissue cavity C which can comprise a main control unit 40, an infusionmember 50 (also referred to herein as an infusion catheter), an accessdevice 60, a fluid reservoir 70, a waste fluid container 80, a pressuresource 90, a vacuum pressure source 100, a cooling device 110, and oneor more sensors 120 such as temperature or pressure sensors. In variousembodiments, system 10 can be used to deliver fluids to a number of bodycavities such as the pleural cavity, vagina, intestines, nasal cavityand like structures, as well as to various vascular structures. Furtherfluid can be delivered for purposes of producing hypothermia, posthypothermic warming, hyperthermia, resuscitation, blood pressuremanagement and other related treatments. However, for ease ofdiscussion, system 10 will be referred to as a peritoneal circulation orhypothermia (PH) system 10 and cavity C will be the peritoneal cavity,however this is for illustrative purposes and it should be appreciatedthat other uses and application sites are equally applicable. Forexample, embodiments can be readily configured for use in the pleuralcavity through selection of dimensions, shape, materials etc.

FIGS. 1, 2 a and 2 b show embodiments of system 10 in which multiplecomponents of the system such as the control unit, reservoir, etc., areattached to an IV pole or other stand means 150. The proximal end ofinfusion catheter 50 is coupled to unit 40 and receives fluid 20 from anattached reservoir. The distal end of the catheter is positioned in theperitoneal or other cavity C of the patient so as to infuse fluid 20into the cavity. A temperature or other sensor 120 is connected to thepatient at an IV or other site to measure the patient's temperature.Pole 150 allows unit 40 to be placed at various locations around thepatient and also provides a gravitation head pressure for delivery offluid 20 into the patient. The pole 150 can be raised or lowered toprovide greater or lesser amounts of head pressure, which can be sensedvia means of a pressure sensor placed in infusion member 50. After theinfusion catheter 50 is positioned at the desired body cavity site, theinfusion (and removal) of fluid 20 can be initiated either under manualor automated control. The user can see various data (e.g., patienttemperature) on displays 44 and make one or more adjustments usingbuttons or other user interfaces 43 or place the unit in an automatedmode. Waste fluid can either be emptied into an external container, asthe case in the embodiment in FIG. 2 a, or into an integrated container80 attached to pole 150, or another portion of the system. Preferably,waste container 80 and the connecting tubing are placed below thepatient to provide for removal of fluid using gravitation head pressurealone (similar to reservoir 70, container 80 can be configured to beraised or lowered to vary the removal pressure). In such embodiments,the system can be configured so as to not require a pressure source 90or vacuum source 100, but instead completely rely on gravitation headpressure alone for both functions. Such embodiments provide an increasedmeasure of portability for field use since a pressure or vacuum sourceis required. Particular embodiments of this configuration can be furtheradapted for battlefield or other emergency medicine use through the useof one or more of light weight weather resistant components, powerefficient and fault tolerant processors and circuitry, rechargeable highvolume efficiency batteries (e.g., lithium or lead acid), and even theuse of light weight manual pumping devices.

In various embodiments, fluid 20 comprises a solution 20 for thedelivery of a medical treatment such as hypthothermic or resuscitativetreatment. For ease of discussion, fluid 20 will be referred to assolution 20 or as infusate 20. Suitable solutions 20 can comprisevarious saline solutions (e.g., ringers lactate), various peritonealdialysis fluids including nutritive based peritoneal dialysis fluid(e.g., those containing dextrose and other sugars), and fluorocarbonsolutions configure for oxygen transport and artificial blood solutionsknown in the art. For aqueous embodiments, the solution can also includeone or more freezing point depression compounds (e.g., NaCl) allowingthe solution to be cooled below the freezing point of water to allow forfaster cooling when so desired.

Also, solution 20 can contain one or more medicaments for treatment ofmyocardial infarction, cardiac arrest or other severe cardiac condition,stroke, shock, reperfusion injury or other medical conditions. Specificfamilies of medicaments can include vasoconstrictors, hemolyticcompounds (e.g., TPA, streptokinase and like compounds), anticoagulants,coagulants, calcium channel blockers, antibiotics, manitols. Also inspecific embodiments, solution 20 can be configured to haveresuscitative effects for treatment of heart attack, stroke, or severeblood loss. It can also have various agents known in the art fortreatment of reperfusion injury. The delivered amount of a particularmedicament can be titrated to the patient's weight and condition withtitration controlled manually or by a drug delivery module residentwithin controller 41. Also, the dose of particular compounds can both bedelivered as bolus with the initial bolus of hypothermic solution andalso on a continuous basis. The delivery rate of a particular medicamentor group of medicaments can also be controlled responsive to thepatient's temperature, blood pressure, heart rate or other vital signmonitored manually, by system 10, or by other monitoring means.

Solution 20 can also comprise oxygenated solutions such as oxygenatedflourocarbon solutions that can be configured to deliver sufficientoxygen to tissue (by gas exchange with peritoneal or other surroundingtissue) to at least partially meet the oxygen demands of the body.Flourcarbon solutions 20 can be pre-oxygenated or can be oxygenated inreservoir 70 or outside of it using oxygen gas sources described herein.Solution 20 can also include contrast media to allow for imaging byx-ray, MRI, ultrasound, and other imaging modalities known in the art.

This main control unit 40 will typically comprise logic resources 41,memory resources 42, user interface devices 43, displays 44, controlvalves 45, fluid connections 46, electrical connections 47, datainput/output ports/interfaces 48, and audio output devices 49 (e.g., aspeaker). The unit can be contained in a frame or housing 40 f and willfrequently include a handle 40 h for portability which can be disposedat any point on frame 40 f. While unit 40 can be a stand alone unit, itcan also be configured to be readily attached to other components ofsystem 10, such as reservoir 70, waste container 80, and pressure source90 as is discussed herein.

Displays 44 and user interfaces 43 can comprise a console face orconsole device 40 c. Console face 40 c can be permanently attached tounit 40; however it may be pivotal in multiple directions to allowviewing from different angles. In particular embodiments, it may also beremovable, functioning as remote console 40 rc that wirelesslycommunicates with unit 40. In use, such wireless embodiments allow theuser to operate the system from any position around the patient, or evento do so remotely. This provides the user with greater flexibility andease of use in both setting up and operating the system, includingfaster response time in making system adjustments. For example, if theuser sees that the patient requires immediate attention due to fallenblood pressure, blood oxygen saturation, etc. or even cardiac arrest,they can make an immediate adjustment to the system using the remoteconsole rather than having to rush to reach the control unit.

In many embodiments, logic resources 41 can be configured as acontroller for controlling one or more parameters related to ahypothermic or other treatment regimen, for example, infusatetemperature, body temperature, infusion and removal rates, infusion andremoval pressures, total volume infused and removed and like parameters.For ease of discussion, logic resources 41 will now be referred to ascontroller 41; however, it should be appreciated that logic resources 41can be configured to perform a variety of operations includingcommunicating with external devices including devices linked over theInternet; data operations; and various power management functions.

Controller 41 can include one or both of analog or digital circuitry forperforming it's control operations. Controller 41 will also typically beconfigured to receive one or more inputs 41 i from sensors 120, pressuresource 90, and control valve 45. Typically, controller 41 will include acomputer processor 41 p which is configured to execute one or moreelectronic instruction sets contained within a software module or module42 m, which can be stored in memory resources 42 or controller 41.Additionally, controller 41 can be configured to be programmed by theuser (e.g., using unit 40 or by an external device such as a wirelessdevice) to allow for manual control of one or more operations of system10 (e.g., infusion rate). Processor 41 p can be an off the shelfprocessor (e.g., such as those available from INTEL Corporation), or canbe a custom designed ASIC.

System 10 can include a number of modules 42 m which can be configuredto control a variety of operations relating to the use of system 10, forexample, temperature control of the infused solutions as wells as thatof the patient, flow and pressure control of the infused and removedsolutions, the level oxygenation of the infused solution and control oflike operations. Modules 42 m may employ algorithms to interpret sensedtemperature data to control fluid flow such that the core temperature ofthe patient may be maintained at the desired level. In particularembodiments, modules 42 m can control the delivery of solution 20 toachieve or enhance a particular medical treatment, such a hypothermictreatment. For example, a module 42 m can control the infusion ofsolution 20 to enhance the thermal and/or gas exchange of the solutionwith peritoneal tissue for a hypothermic and/or resuscitative treatment.This can be achieved by controlling the infusion of the solution tocontrol the temperature and pressure within the peritoneal or othertissue cavity.

Memory resources 42 can comprise one or more of ROM, RAM, DRAM andvarious non-volatile memories including EPROMs and flash memory. Inaddition to module 42 m, memory resources 42 can also include a database42 db, which can include one or more treatment regimens 42 tr, such ashypothermic treatment regimen for a particular medical condition (e.g.,stroke) and/or a particular patient population (e.g., pediatric vs.geriatric). User interfaces 43 can comprise, buttons, keypads, pressuresensitive finger pads, touch screens and like devices. Control valves 45can include various electronic control valves known in the art and arecontrolled by controller 41.

Fluid connections 46 can include luer lock or other fluidic connectionsknown in the art and can be configured to be coupled to one or more ofinfusion member 50, reservoir 70, container 80, pressure sources 90 andvacuum source 100. They may also be snap fit and/or quick disconnect sothat the user can quickly reattach a different infusion member, pressuresource, etc. They may also be color coded for the particular connection(e.g., one color for an infusion line, another for removal, etc.). Theycan also have integrated control valves 45 and/or sensors 120, thelatter being configured to alert the user when the connector has becomedisconnected or is otherwise not fully connected.

Electrical connectors 47 can be configured to be coupled to one or morewires 47 w for coupling to sensors 120, a remote controller or otherlike devices. Data input/output ports or connections 48 can includethose known in the portable and computer arts including PCMCIAconnections and UART connections. They can also include various wirelessinterfaces/connections including Rf connections configured for BLUETOOTH protocol and infrared interfaces. In specific embodiments, I/Oconnections 48 can be configured to interface with an external flashmemory or other external memory device 42 e coupled to infusion member50 or another component of system 10. This allows control unit 40 toupload and run one or more modules 42 m stored in flash memory coupledto infusion catheter 50. In use, such embodiments reduce the memoryrequirements of control unit 40, and also serve to improve reliabilityby not relying on a single memory device which may become compromised.Thus, the user need only swap out an infusion catheter 50 (othercomponent of the system carrying a memory device) rather than swappingout a whole control unit 40.

Wireless I/O ports 48 can also be configured to wirelessly communicatewith sensors 120 and control valves 45, one or both of which can includeRFID tags. In use, such embodiments reduce the number of connectingwires required by the system, making it easier for the medical personnelto position components to the needs of the patient and the scene, ratherthen tethering the equipment around the patient. It also allows the userto quickly reposition a temperature or other sensor 120, without havingto stop to disconnect and reconnect the sensor.

Sensors 120 can be configured to measure a variety of physicalproperties related to the use of system 10. Accordingly, they cancomprise a variety of biomedical sensors known in the art, includingtemperature sensors, pressure sensors, force sensors, flow sensors, pHsensors, oxygen and other gas sensors (e.g., CO₂), acoustic sensors,piezoelectric sensors, and the like. Suitable temperature sensors caninclude thermisters, thermocouples, optical sensors, and like devices.Suitable pressure and force sensors can include strain gauges, solidstate, and mems based strain gauges. Suitable flow sensors includeelectromagnetic flow sensors and aneometric flow sensors known in theart. Temperature, pressure sensors and flow sensors positioned oninfusion member 50 and include one more miniature thermisters, and solidstate pressure sensors and flow sensors known in the art. One moresensors 120 can also include RFID tags or like devices so as to be ableto wirelessly signal an input to controller 41 or another instrument.

A discussion will now be presented of infusion catheter 50. In variousembodiments, infusion catheter 50 can be configured to be positioned inthe peritoneal PC or other tissue cavity C and deliver fluid to thecavity for a hypothermic or other medical treatment discussed herein.Typically the infusion member will be advanced through an access device60 which is inserted to a controlled depth into the abdominal or othertissue wall. The infusion catheter can be configured to be advanced byitself or through use of an advancement member 30 discussed herein whichcan be reversibly positioned in a lumen of the infusion member and actsto increase the pushability or column strength of the infusion memberwhen so positioned.

In many embodiments, infusion member 50 will comprise a catheter, so forease of discussion, infusion member will now be referred to as catheter50. The catheter can have a length ranging from 20 cm to 200 cms toallow for connection to unit 40 at varying distances from the patient.Smaller lengths can be used for pediatric application. The outerdiameter 50D of the catheter can be sized for advancement throughstandard surgical port access devices and in varying embodiments, canrange from about 0.1 to 1 inch though other sizes are also contemplateddepending upon the target tissue site. For example, smaller sizes can beused for accessing the pleural cavity as well as for pediatricapplications. Various embodiments of the catheter can include insertiondepth indicia 50 di and or radio-opaque/echogenic markings 50 m in orderto assist in determining insertion depth either visually or under imageguidance (e.g., fluoroscopy, ulstrasound, etc.).

Catheter 50 can include at least one lumen 51, extending all or aportion of its length 50L. Typically, the catheter will include at leasta first lumen 52 for infusion of infusate 20 and a second lumen 53 forremoval of fluid, though additional lumens are also contemplated.Typically, the lumens will be round or oval shaped, but can also beD-shaped or crescent shaped. In various embodiments, the inner diameters52 id and 53 id of lumens 52 and 53 can range from about 0.05 to about0.5 inches though other diameters are also contemplated. Desirably,lumen 52 has a sufficient inner diameter 52 id to be able to infuse 2 to4 liters of hypothermic infusate 20 to reduce the patient's bodytemperature by at least about 3° C., or more preferably, ten minutes orless via heat exchange with peritoneal tissue using pressures less than3 atmospheres and more preferably less than 1 atmosphere. Diameter 53 idis also dersirably configured to deliver between 2 to 4 liters ofinfusate 20 in ten minutes or less. Diameter 53 id can be configured toremove similar volumes of fluid in similar time periods. In addition tofluid infusion and removal, one or both lumens 52 and 53 can be sizedfor advancement of an advancement member, guidewire, endoscope or otherviewing device, a sensing member, tissue biopsy device, or otherminimally invasive surgical device.

In preferred embodiments, infusion lumen 52 will extend the entirelength of the infusion catheter. The removal lumen 53 is desirably notcontinuous to the very tip of the infusion catheter to allow for anadvancement member 30 (described herein) to have a surface to pushagainst so as to advance the infusion catheter. Alternatively, the innerdiameter 53 id of removal lumen 53 can neck down near the distal end ofthe infusion catheter so as to be able hold the advancement member by aninterference fit.

In a preferred embodiment, lumens 52 and 53 are contained in a singlecatheter 50 for it's entire length such as in a single dual lumencatheter. However, in various embodiments, the catheter 50 can split upfrom one another at a point 59 into separate portions 50 i and 50 rcontaining the infusion and removal lumens to provide for easyconnection to reservoir 70 and waste container 80 as is shown in FIG. 2b. Also, the distal infusion and removal portions 52 p and 53 p canextend different lengths. In FIG. 2 a., portion 52 p can extend pastportion 53 p as discussed in further detail herein. FIG. 2 b illustratesa reverse configuration.

Catheter 50 will also typically include one or more apertures 54positioned along catheter distal portions 57 for the outflow 54 o andinflow 54 i of fluid to provide for the infusion and removal of fluidfrom the peritoneal or other cavity C. Typically, the outflow orinfusion apertures 55 will be placed more distally than inflow orremoval aperture 56 to reduce the pressure for removal, and reduce theimmediate uptake of the infused solution by removal apertures 56. Bothtypes of apertures can be positioned in patterns 55 p and 56 p to reduceclogging by peritioneal tissue and improve flow rates in bothdirections. Typically, this involves a minimal amount of spacing betweeneach aperture (e.g. 1 mm or greater). Further resistance to the tissueclogging of outflow and inflow apertures 55 and 56 can also be achievedby moving at least some of the outflow apertures off of tip 57 t andplacing the inflow aperture even more proximally with respect to thecatheter tip (for example, several centimeters or more) as is shown inFIG. 4 b. In preferred embodiments, this can also be achieved byextending the portion 52 p of the catheter containing infusion lumen 52several centimeters more distally than the catheter portion 53 p whichcontains removal lumen 53 as is shown in FIGS. 2 a and 3 c. Thetransition 53 t between the two portions is desirably tapered to providefor smooth advancement of the catheter. In still other embodiments, oneor both sets of apertures 55 and 56 can include protective features 54 fsuch as a protective porous membrane 54 fm, surrounding the apertures 56or a protective lip or baffle 54 fl overlying at least a portion ofapertures 55 as is shown in FIG. 3 d. The lip or baffle 54 is desirablyconfigured to direct away tissue encroaching from the distal direction,but still allow inflow from the proximal direction. These features canbe placed on either sets of apertures 55 and 56.

Catheter 50 will typically include one or more sensors 120 which beselected to measure, flow rates, pressure, temperature or other physicalproperty. In preferred embodiments, the catheter will include at leastone temperature sensor positioned on the distal portion or even thedistal tip 57 t of the catheter to measure temperature within theperitoneal or other cavity. The input from temperature sensor 120 can beutilized by controller 41 and/or a thermal regulation module 41 m toregulate infusate flow rate and the infusate temperature, so as toreduce the patient's temperature a selected amount as part of ahypothermic treatment regimen. Multiple temperature sensors may beplaced at various locations on the catheter to obtain a compositetemperature over a volume of the peritoneal or other cavity. Temperaturesensors 120 can also be placed within lumens 55 and 56 to monitor thetemperature of infused and removed fluid.

In addition to temperature sensors 120 placed on catheter 50, variousexternal temperatures sensors 120 e may be placed in one or morelocations in body. FIG. 2 c illustrates the various placement optionsfor temperature sensors 120 e which can in some embodiments be wirelessbased sensors known in the art. Such placement options can includeperitoneal PC, intravascular I, auricular A, oral O, epidermal ED andrectal/urethral RU. In preferred embodiments, peritoneal and/orintravascular temperature can be used for control purposes. However, invarious embodiments, temperatures can be sampled from multiple locationsand a composite temperature can be developed and used for controlpurposes, with assignable weightings to each location. In use, acomposite measurement can give a more accurate reflection of thepatient's temperature particular during fast cool regimens. In theseembodiments, a temperature map can be developed and displayed to showthe progress of cooling over the patient's body (e.g., as a wave ordepth of cooling). In other embodiments, only temperature measurementsfrom a particular target site to be cooled can be used, e.g., theperitoneal cavity.

Catheter 50 can also include at least one flow sensor 120 positioned inlumen 55. Flow sensors 120 positioned in lumen 55 can be configured toperform several functions. First, to provide an input to controller 41for controlling infusate flow rate. Second, to provide an input to thecontroller indicating the entry of the distal tip of the catheter intothe peritoneal or other tissue cavity so as to minimize the risk ofinjuring a peritoneal organ or other tissue. This latter function can beachieved through use of entry point detection module 41 which detectsentry by an increase in infusate flow rate which occurs when the tip ofthe catheter emerges into the peritoneal cavity and one or more infusionapertures become patent. In such embodiments, the pressure source 90 canbe configured to provide at least a minimal pressure to the infusionlumen during catheter advancement for purposes of detecting flow. Entrycan be detected by an absolute increase in flow rate or a rate ofincrease or a combination of both (i.e. analogous to PD control). Onceentry is detected, controller 41 can send an audio alarm signal to audiooutput device 49 to alert the user that entry has occurred. In oneembodiment, a series of pre-alarm signals may also be sent indicatingwhen the entry point is close (e.g., one aperture has entered thecavity) so as to provide the user with more advance warning of entry.

Catheter 50 can also include one or more pressure sensors 120 positionedat various locations on or within the catheter. In particularembodiments, pressure sensors 120 can be positioned in lumen 55 todetect entry of infusion catheter into the peritoneal or other cavity,as described above. However, in this case, entry is detected by adecrease in pressure either absolute or rate of decrease. In anotherapplication for the use of pressure sensors, the pressure sensor 120 canbe positioned on a distal portion of the catheter, such as tip 57 t todetect the pressure in the peritoneal or other cavity C. This pressuresignal can then be utilized by controller 41 to decrease or shut offinfusion when the measured peritoneal cavity pressure exceeds a selectedabsolute threshold or rate of increase. The controller can also send anaccompanying alarm signal to speaker 49. Desirably, the controller isconfigured to slow down the infusion rate as the selected pressurethreshold is reached rather than shutting off infusion altogether. Inuse, such embodiments prevent or reduce the likelihood ofover-pressurizing the peritoneal cavity. They also serve to optimize therate of patient cooling (since the system need not be shut off torespond to over pressurization events) and allow the system to be run ina more automated fashion with less oversight by the user.

Catheter 50 can be fabricated from various biocompatible flexiblepolymers known in the art such as polyethylene (HDPE and LDPE),silicone, polyurethane, PTFE, PEBAX and like materials. All or a portionof the catheter can include a lubricous coating 50 c such as a siliconecoating to assist in advancement of the catheter through tissue. Also,the tip 57 t or distal portions 57 can be tapered. The catheter can alsoinclude braiding or other means for improving kink resistance andincreasing the burst strength of the catheter lumens. In particularembodiments, the proximal portions 58 of the catheter can be braided orotherwise stiffened such that the catheter has sufficient columnstrength to be advanced into the peritoneal cavity through manipulationof the proximal portion 58. In some embodiments, the catheter caninclude a handle (not shown) positioned at proximal end 58 e of thecatheter to assist in advancement of the catheter.

In many embodiments, infusion catheter 50 is configured to be advancedinto a tissue cavity through use of an access device 60. Access device60 is configured to penetrate a selectable distance D through the skin Sand into sub-dermal tissue layers SDL. The infusion catheter 50 is thenadvanced through a lumen of the access device into the peritoneal PC orother cavity C as is described herein. In this respect, access device 60functions as a port for the introduction and advancement of infusionmember 50 into tissue. Collectively, infusion catheter 50 and accessdevice 60 can comprise an access and infusion apparatus 68 which can besterily packaged as a kit separate from other components of system 10,such that the apparatus can be readily stored and transported separatefrom unit 40 or 140. This helps to maintain the sterility of the entiresystem. The catheter and access device of apparatus 68 are sized to beused together so that the user need not match the size of the catheterto that of the access device. However, other embodiments arecontemplated where the catheter and access device are packagedseparately so they can be mixed and matched. In the later case, matchinginfusion catheters 50 and access devices 60 can be color coded for easeof matching.

In various embodiments, access device 60 will typically include at leastone lumen 61 extending there through and a tissue penetrating distal end62. Lumen 61 can have an inner diameter 61D sized to accommodate avariety of different sized infusion catheters 50 and in variousembodiments can range from about 0.1 to 0.5 inches, though other sizesare also contemplated. Access device 60 can be a surgical port device,trocar or other surgical access known in the art. Access device 60 willtypically have a stop 64 to control the penetration depth of the accessdevice into the tissue so that user does not need to precisely controlthe insertion depth. Stop 64 can comprise a flange or lip that protrudesfrom the outer walls of the access device and is positioned close toproximal end 63. Stop 64 can also include an adhesive 65 and/or a sutureopening 66 for affixing the access device to the skin surface once it isinserted. Desirably, adhesive 65 has sufficient adhesive force and areato laterally stabilize the access device on the skin surface. The stop64 can also be adjustable (e.g., using screws or an indexing mechanisms)to control the penetration depth D of the access device into the tissue.In preferred embodiments, the access device is configured to penetrateinto sub-dermal tissue layers SDL, but not completely through abdominalor other tissue wall TW. The access device can be fabricated fromvarious biocompatible rigid polymers and metals known in the art, it canalso include indicia along it's length indicating penetration depth.

Tissue penetration tip 62 can have a variety of tissue penetratingshapes including a trocar tip shape 62 c as is shown in FIGS. 5 a-5 b.In many embodiments, the distal end 62 of access device 60 can also betransformable from a tissue penetrating configuration 62 t to anon-tissue penetrating 62 s or safety configuration. This can beachieved through a variety of means. For example, in one embodiment, thedistal end can be hinged as is shown in FIG. 5 c and 5 d such that oncethe access device reaches it's stop depth, advancement of the infusioncatheter forces the hinged blades 62 b open or through a spring-loadedmechanism which provides for the blades to spring away from the lumenonce an appropriate amount of incision has been achieved. In anotherembodiment shown in FIG. 5 e, the distal end can be retractable throughuse of spring loaded or like mechanism. In another embodiment shown inFIGS. 5 f-g, distal tip 62 of access device 60 can be a shearable tip 62h, for example by advancement of catheter 50, such that the catheter 50breaks through tip 62 and once sheared, renders it a blunt non-tissuepenetrating tip now in the safety configuration. Distal tip 62 can beconfigured to be shearable through the use of notching or otherweakening features or treatment or through the use of dimensioning(e.g., wall thickness) to more readily shear when an axial force isapplied by catheter 50 and/or advancement member 30. In anotherembodiment (not shown), access device 60 can be put into the safetyconfiguration through the use of an overlying slidable sheath thatslides over device 60 once the penetration depth is achieved through useof stop 64 or other penetration limiting means.

Infusion catheter 50 can be advanced into tissue by different means. Asdescribed above, in some embodiments, the catheter can have sufficientcolumn strength to advance into tissue by manipulation of a proximalportion of the catheter without any additional support. In theseembodiments the catheter tip is configured to be tissue penetrating,without external support. However, in preferred embodiments, thecatheter is configured to advance through means of advancement member 30which is removably positionable in at least one of the lumens 51 ofinfusion catheter 50 to advance the catheter in a distal direction 33through the abdominal or other tissue wall. In these latter embodiments,catheter tip 57 t is tissue penetrating when supported by advancementmember 30, but upon removal of the advancement member, the tip becomes asubstantially atraumatic tip 57 ta. This can be facilitated byconstructing the catheter tip from flexible polymer material as well astapering the tip. The use of an atraumatic tip 57 ta allows the user tocontinue to advance the catheter 50 into the peritoneal or other cavityC in order to position apertures 55 and 56 at a desired location as wellas take temperature readings in multiple locations without risk ofinjury to the peritoneal organs. It also allows the catheter to bereadily repositioned without risk of similar injury.

In many cases, the advancement member will be sized for advancement inthe removal lumen 53 or other lumen besides infusion lumen 52 so as toallow for the infusion of solution 20 through the catheter duringcatheter advancement to detect entry of the catheter tip into theperitoneal cavity using techniques described herein. While in many casesit will be sized to be removably positioned in catheter 50, in otherembodiments it can also be fixed in position within the catheter.

Desirably, the advancement member has sufficient column strength toadvance infusion catheter 50 through the abdominal wall AW or othertissue TW and into the peritoneal PC or cavity C by manipulation of aproximal portion 58 of the infusion member or a proximal portion 31 ofthe advancement member. In addition to having sufficient column strengthto advance the infusion member, the advancement member can also beconfigured to be able to have sufficient column strength to push throughor shear embodiments of access device that have a shearable distalportion 62 h.

In preferred embodiments, the advancement member can have a handle orgrip 30 h positioned at its proximal portion 31 to facilitatemanipulation by the user. In an embodiment shown in FIG. 4D, the handle30 h can be configured along the proximal portion of catheter 50 tohaving gun like grip 30 g allowing the user to hold the catheter by grip30 g and advance the advancement member in a distal direction 34 usingonly their thumb. In such embodiments, the proximal portion 58 of thecatheter can be directed downwards forming a gun-like handle shape 50 gthat can be held in the user's hand.

As described above, the advancement member will be positioned in theremoval lumen 53 of the infusion catheter so as to allow for flow ofsolution 20 through the infusion lumen 52 during advancement of theinfusion catheter. In order to prevent fluid from leaking out of theremoval lumen in the space between the removal lumen walls and theadvancement member, the infusion catheter can have an adjustable valve37 positioned around the advancement member to form a fluidic sealaround the advancement member during movement of member 30 or whenstationary. In a preferred embodiment, valve 37 can comprise aTouhy-Borst type adapter known in the art and include a single or amulti arm adapter to allow for multiple connections (e.g., to wastecontainer 80 as well as to one or more biomedical monitoringinstruments).

Valve 37 can also be configured to fluidicaly seal the proximal end ofthe removal lumen when the advancement member is not in place.Adjustable valve 37 can be configured to not only form a fluidic sealaround the advancement member but also to hold the advancement member inplace within infusion catheter. This allows the user to selectivelyposition the advancement member in the infusion catheter duringadvancement of the latter. This positioning in turn can allow the userto select the amount of flexibility or stiffness of the distal portionsof the infusion catheter.

The advancement member can have a variety of lengths depending upon theapplication and the length of infusion catheter 50. In preferredembodiments the advancement member has a length such that the proximalend 31 e of the advancement member extends past the proximal end 58 e ofthe infusion member (when fully inserted into the infusion member) sothat proximal end of the advancement member can be readily manipulatedby the user. The diameter 34 of the advancement member is sized suchthat it can be readily advanced or withdrawn from the infusion memberwith minimal or in some cases slight resistance. In other cases, memberdiameter 34 can be sized to have some resistance with lumen 53 ofinfusion catheter or even to result in an interference fit within thelumen.

In various embodiments, the advancement member can be fabricated fromvarious biocompatible metals such as stainless steal or rigid polymersknown in the art (PEEK, polyamides, polyimides, polyetherimide and likematerials). The material of the advancement member together with it'sdiameter are desirably selected to meet column strength described above.The material for the advancement member can also be selected to have alubricous surface 35 or be coated with a lubricous coating 35 c, such assilicone or TEFLON, to facilitate advancement of the advancement memberin the infusion catheter. Additionally, all or a portion of theadvancement member can comprise a radio-opaque material (including adistinct marking) for visualization under various medical imagingmodalities.

Cooling device 110 can comprise various cooling devices known in the artincluding electronic cooling devices, chillers, cryogenic gas basedcooling devices and the like. In preferred embodiments, cooling device110 comprises a peltier cooling device 111 which can be placed within,adjacent to, or is otherwise thermally coupled to reservoir 70 so as toform cooling assembly 115 as is shown in FIG. 2 d. Assembly 115 caninclude volume measurement indicia 115 m, one or both of reservoir 70,and container 80 to indicate the fill state of either. It may alsoinclude insulation 115 i around all or a portion of its surfaceincluding the surface of reservoir 70 and container 80. The assembly 115can include a handle 115 and can be modularized such that it can bereversibly coupled to control unit 40 and/or system unit 140. It canalso be configured to be stored in a refrigerator with a filledreservoir 70 such that it can be removed and quickly connected to unit40/140. In use, such embodiments allow for the immediate infusion of ahypothermic solution 20 without having to wait for a cool down period.Similar results can be achieved by modularizing reservoir 70 such thatit can be pre-refrigerated and quickly connected to assembly 115 and/orunit 40/140. Such modularity can be facilitated by the use of quickfluidic connections, such as snap fit connections known in the art,allowing assembly 115 or reservoir 70 to be easily snapped in place.

In preferred embodiments, peltier device 111 is placed between reservoir70 and waste container 80 such that cooling side 112 of device 111 isthermally coupled to reservoir 70 and the hot side 113 is so coupled towaste container 80. This configuration allows device 111 to readilyextract heat from and thus cool the fluid in reservoir 70 and also usethe fluid in waste container 80 as a heat sink since that fluid in wastecontainer 80 will still be below the temperature of hot side 113. One ormore temperatures sensors 120 can be placed in reservoir 70, container80, as well as on peltier device 111, so as to send input signals 41 ito controller 41. Controller 41 can use these signals to optimize thecooling process using various control algorithms (e.g., PID, PI, etc)embedded within a thermal control module 41 m. These and relatedembodiments allow for rapid and continuous cooling of infused fluid 20with reduced cooling power requirements. In various embodiments, theassembly can also include a supplemental cooling device 110 s to providefor faster cooling rates. Supplemental device 110 can be peltier orother cooling devices described herein.

In many embodiments, unit 40 can be integral or otherwise coupled to oneor more of reservoir 70, waste container 80, pump or other pressuresource 90, and cooling device 110 so as to comprise a system unit 140.System unit 140 is desirably a portable unit and will typically includea handle 140 h and is sized to be readily carried and transportable inan ambulance, EMT vehicle, crash cart and the like. Unit 140 can alsoinclude brackets or other mounting means to be quickly mounted to an IVpole 150 or like structure. Unit 140 may also include an integral IVpole 150 as is shown in FIG. 2 e. Pole 150 may be telescoping orotherwise self-expanding. Unit 140 can include an integral battery 160,such as a rechargeable lead acid battery having sufficient capacity formultiple hours of operations. The unit can also include electrical powerconnections 47 p for connection to an external power supply 161 whichcan be either an AC or DC power supply 162 and 163 respectively.

Pressure source 90 is desirably configured to provide sufficientpressure for fluid flow from reservoir 70 through catheter 50 and intocavity C. In various embodiments, pressure source 90 can comprise aninfusion pump including a positive displacement pump or a peristalticpump. It can also be configured to interface with a pump cassetteportion 51 of catheter 50 such that the pump does not need to contactfluid 20. Pump 91 can also be configured as a vacuum source 100 bypumping in an opposite direction. Pump 91 or other pressure source 90(e.g., a gas source described below), desirably provides sufficientpressure to infuse 2 to 4 liters of solution 20 into the peritonealcavity of a patient in ten minutes or less. Pump 91 is desirablyautomated and can send and receive one or more inputs from controller41. In particular embodiments, pump 91 can be configured to producepulsatile flow (for either infusion or removal of solution) and caninclude a selectable pressure and/or flow wave form such as sinusoidal,square wave and like waveforms. The period of the waveform can also besynchronized with one or more of heart rate, respiration as is describedherein. In one embodiment, infusate flow can be counter-pulsated (e.g.,approximately 180° out of phase) with the heart rate so as to increaseblood flow through the peritoneal vasculature and provide a measure ofpumping assistance to the heart. In related embodiments, such counterpulsation or other forms of synchronized flow can also be used toincrease the patient's blood pressure (by producing vasoconstrictionwithin the peritoneal and surrounding vasculature) for treatment ofpatients suffering blood loss, shock or other conditions causing lowblood pressure. In various embodiments, the waveform and periods ofinfusion and removal, as well as synchronization, can be controlled by aduty cycle module 41 m executed by controller 41. Synchronization can beachieved through inputs of one or more sensors 120, as well as inputsfrom external biomedical monitoring instrumentation.

In other embodiments, pressure source 90 can comprise a compressed gassource 92, such as a compressed air source. The compressed gas sourcewill typically include a control valve 94 which can be an electronicvalve operably coupled to controller 41. Control valve 94 (or othercontrol valve 45) and controller 41 can also be configured to producethe forms of pulsatile and synchronized flow and related waveformsdescribed above for pump 91.

In preferred embodiments, gas source 92 is a compressed oxygen source 93which can be externally coupled oxygen source or an integral sourcecoupled to unit 40 or 140. Compressed oxygen source 93 is desirablyconfigured to provide sufficient total pressure for fluid flow intocavity C. It's also desirably configured to have a sufficient oxygenpartial pressure to oxygenate infused solution 20 so as to be abledeliver sufficient oxygen to peritoneal or other tissue to help increasethe blood oxygen saturation of a hypoxic patient.

Oxygen source 93 can be coupled to oxygenation element or device 95 suchas a bubble oxygenater or hollow fiber oxygenater. Oxygenation device 95can be positioned within reservoir 70, an oxygenation chamberfluidically coupled to reservoir 70, or within a lumen of infusioncatheter 50. The flow of oxygen into solution 20 can be controlledthrough the use of one or more oxygen sensors 120 positioned withinreservoir 70, or infusion catheter 50. Controller 41 can receive one ormore feedbacks from these sensors to regulate the oxygen saturation ofsolution 20 using an oxygen control module 42 m which uses one or morecontrol algorithms, e.g., PID, etc. Also, multiple oxygen sensors can beexternally placed along the length of infusion catheter 50 in order tomeasure oxygen partial pressures within different locations within theperitoneal PC or other cavity C as well as a rate of oxygen uptake byperitoneal tissue. Such measured oxygen partial pressure can be utilizedtogether with measured peritoneal pressures and temperatures to moreprecisely control the infusion and removal of solution from theperitoneal cavity for a hypothermic, resuscitative, dialysis or othermedical treatment using an infused solution.

Referring now to FIGS. 6 a-6 e and FIGS. 7 a-7 e, several alternativeembodiments for preventing peritoneal injury during advancement ofinfusion catheter 50, will now be discussed. In these embodiments, thecatheter can include an unsupported tissue penetrating tip 57 tp, whichcan comprise a needle or other sharp tip. They can also be utilized withembodiments where the catheter is advanced through use of advancementmember 30 and is tissue penetrating when supported by the advancementmember. In an embodiment shown in FIGS. 6 a-6 e, catheter 50 can includea slidable protective sheath 50 s which allows the tissue penetratingtip 57 tp of the catheter to penetrate the skin S and subcutaneoustissues layers STL but will not penetrate the bowel B. Once exposed tothe tension of the skin and subcutaneous tissues, the sheath 50 s isretracted proximally exposing tip 57 tp so that it can pierce theunderlying skin and other tissue. Once this tension is relieved though,the sheath springs back over the tip, thereby protecting the bowel. Atemperature sensor 120 can be positioned near the tip to detect movementof the sheath (by detecting a change in temperature when this occurs),as well as measure temperature in the peritoneal or other cavity.

In another embodiment shown in FIGS. 7 a-7 e, pressurized air flowthrough the catheter 50 can be employed to prevent organ injury duringadvancement. The air or other fluid 20 is channeled through a lumen 52to the tissue penetrating tip 57 tp of catheter 50. Once insertedsubcutaneously (See FIG. 7 c) the air or fluid is urged forward, but isincapable of flowing due to the resistance from encroaching subcutaneoustissue ST. Once the needle enters the peritoneal cavity PC though, thebowel B will be moved away from the tip 57 tp, creating a gap G, due tothe pressurized air fluid forcing it away as is shown in FIGS. 7 d and 7e. Desirably, gap G is of sufficient distance such the tip 57 tp willnot contact the bowel or other peritoneal tissue during movement orrepositioning of the catheter. The Gap can be monitored under imageguidance or through a sensor 120 and the pressure of fluid 22 can beadjusted to maintain or change the gap distance at the user'spreference.

In various embodiments of methods of using the invention, system 10 canbe used to cool the patient's body temperature at different rates anddifferent temperatures. Generally, though not necessarily, the patient'sbody temperature that is cooled is considered to be their coretemperature. However, in some instances, system 10 can be configured toproduce a more localized cooling effect or otherwise preferentially coola particular targeted region of the body to a particular temperature(e.g., the peritoneal region), or even a particular organ (e.g., theheart), or an extremity (e.g., the leg) without necessarily bringing thepatients core temperature to that level. This can be facilitated byplacement of one or more sensors 120 at the target tissue site to becooled (e.g., in the peritoneal cavity, or a needle sensor inserted intothe extremity).

System 10 can be used to produce a particular hypothermic or coolingregimen (e.g. rate of cooling and target temperature). The coolingregimen can be titrated to treat a variety of medical conditionsincluding stroke, myocardial infarction, blood loss or any conditioncausing reduced perfusion to the brain, heart or any of the major organsystems, e.g. the kidneys, gastro-intestinal, system, etc., as well asany extremity, e.g. arm, leg, etc. In particular embodiments, thecooling regimens can be employed to treat particular conditions e.g.,stroke vs. myocardial infarction so as to reduce the amount of ischemicreperfusion injury to vital organs resulting from the particularischemic event. In specific embodiments, the cooling regimen can beconfigured to do one or more of the following: i) reduce coronaryinfarct size and related sequelia from various cardiac events such asacute myocardial infarction, cardiac arrest, arrhythmia, trauma or othercardiac insufficiency; ii) reduce cerebral infarct size and relatedsequelia from stroke, cerebral vessel dissection, head trauma, cardiacarrest, arrhythmia, blood loss or other cardio-pulmonary insufficiency;iii) reduce tissue injury in other vital organs from cardiac arrest,blood loss or other cardio-pulmonary insufficiency; iv) reduce tissueinjury in an extremity (e.g., the leg) resulting from trauma or bloodloss; v) reduce post surgical tissue inflammation; and vi) provide atissue protective effect from reduced perfusion resulting from surgeryor other medical procedure.

In various embodiments, the cooling regimen can be selected by the userfrom a databases of cooling regimens 42 db stored memory resources 42 oran external device or computer wireless interfaced to system 10. Thedatabase of cooling regimens can include regimens for particularconditions, e.g., myocardial infarction as described above. The user canselect a regimen from the database and use it unmodified or maycustomize, or otherwise fine-tune it to the particular patient andhis/her current condition. This can be done by adjusting one moretreatment parameters such as infusion rate, infusate temperature, etc.

System 10 can be configured to cool the temperature to a variety ofranges. In many embodiments, the system can be used to cool thepatient's temperature in the range of about 30 to about 35° C., with apreferred target temperature of 34° C. Lower ranges can also be selecteddepending upon the medical condition or surgical procedure. Inembodiments for treatment of acute myocardial infarction or stroke,system 10 can be configured to cool the patient's temperature thetargeted value (e.g. 34° C.) in ten minutes or less. In manyembodiments, this can be achieved by rapidly infusing a bolus of chilledsolution into the peritoneal cavity preferably between 2 to 4 liters andmore preferably about 3 liters in ten minutes or less. Shorter periodssuch as five minutes or less are also contemplated and can be achievedthrough use cooler infusion solutions including solutions cooled below0° C. Faster cooling can be achieved by infusing cooler solution and/orhigh infusion rates. Higher flow rates can be achieved through the useof higher pressure or larger lumen diameters for the infusion catheter50. In particular embodiments, the lumen diameter of the infusioncatheter can be configured for delivering a maximum flow rate and themedical care provider can select the infusion catheter for its maximumflow rate so as to able deliver a desired amount of hypothermic solution20 for a particular medical condition.

Also in various embodiments, system 10 can be used to cool all or aselected portion of the patient's body prior and post surgery to reducea patient's inflammatory response resulting from the surgery due to therelease of cytokines etc. In related embodiments, system 10 can be usedfor pre-operative and intra-operative cooling of a selected operativesite, such as the heart, to allow for extended periods of operation onthe organ with reduced or no perfusion through the organ. In oneembodiment, the system can be configured to chill the heart (similar tocardioplegia) to allow for various forms of cardiac surgery, which mayrequire the heart to be stopped or where portions of the heart are crossclamped, such as valve replacement, CABG, aorta repair, atrial-septaldefect repair and like procedures. This can be achieved through coolingof the peritoneal cavity, or by direct infusion of cooling solution to achamber of the heart using a cardiac type port access device 60 known inthe art.

In such embodiments, system 10 can be configured to achieve coronarytissue temperatures in the range of about 20 to 25° C. or an even lowerrange for example 10 to 20° C. Lower temperatures can be selected andtitrated for longer periods of cardiac arrest or reduced coronaryperfusion. For example, for periods of cross clamping less than 60minutes, a 20 to 25° C. range can be selected, while for periods inexcess of 60 minutes a 10 to 20° C. range can be selected. Also, thesystem can be used to a provide a pre-operative period of hypothermictreatment, also known as pre-ischemic conditioning, to extend operatingtime and reduce an amount of post operative cardiac reperfusion injury.

CONCLUSION

The foregoing description of various embodiments of the invention hasbeen presented for purposes of illustration and description. It is notintended to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed. Manymodifications, variations and refinements will be apparent topractitioners skilled in the art. For example, embodiments of theapparatus and related methods can be configured for performinghypothermic treatments at a number of access points in the bodyincluding the abdominal, thoracic, spinal and cerebral regions.Embodiments of the apparatus can also be sized or otherwise adapted forpediatric and neonatal applications.

Elements, characteristics, or acts from one embodiment can be readilyrecombined or substituted with one or more elements, characteristics oracts from other embodiments to form numerous additional embodimentswithin the scope of the invention. Moreover, elements that are shown ordescribed as being combined with other elements, can, in variousembodiments, exist as stand alone elements. Hence, the scope of thepresent invention is not limited to the specifics of the describedembodiments, but is instead limited solely by the appended claims.

1. A method for delivering fluid to a body cavity of a patient, themethod comprising: inserting an access device a controlled depth into atissue wall of the patient; advancing an infusion member through theaccess device utilizing an advancement member positioned in the infusionmember; determining when the distal tip of the infusion member hasentered into the body cavity; signaling when the distal tip of theinfusion member has entered into the body cavity so as preventpenetration injury of an organ in the cavity; removing the advancementmember from the infusion member so as to render the infusion memberdistal tip substantially atraumatic; and infusing a solution into thecavity through the infusion member.
 2. The method for claim 1, whereinthe body cavity is a peritoneal cavity and the tissue wall is theabdominal wall.
 3. The method for claim 1, wherein the entry of thedistal tip into the cavity is determined by monitoring a flow ratethrough the infusion member or a pressure at the distal tip of theinfusion member.
 4. The method for claim 1, wherein the signal is anaudio or a visual signal.
 5. A method for inducing hypothermia in apatient, the method comprising: inserting an access device a controlleddepth into an abdominal wall of the patient; advancing an infusionmember through the access device and into the peritoneal cavity of thepatient without injuring an organ in the peritoneal cavity; monitoring atemperature of the patient at a selected location; infusing ahypothermic infusate solution into the peritoneal cavity through theaccess device or an infusion member positioned within the access device,wherein an infusion parameter is controlled utilizing the monitoredtemperature; cooling tissue in the peritoneal cavity with thehypothermic solution; and reducing the temperature of the patient to aselected temperature.
 6. The method for claim 5, wherein at least one ofa rate of infusion or cooling is titrated to reduce an amount ofcoronary ischemic tissue injury resulting from myocardial infarction,cardiac arrest or other coronary ischemic event.
 7. The method for claim5, wherein at least one of a rate of infusion or cooling is titrated toreduce an amount of cerebral ischemic tissue injury resulting fromstroke, cardiac arrest or other cerebral ischemic event.
 8. The methodfor claim 5, wherein at least one of a rate of infusion or cooling istitrated to reduce an amount of ischemic tissue injury in a tissueextremity.
 9. The method for claim 5, wherein at least one of a rate ofinfusion or cooling is titrated to reduce an inflammatory responseresulting from a surgical procedure.
 10. The method for claim 9, whereinthe surgical procedure is a cardiovascular procedure, an open heartprocedure, a valve repair or replacement procedure, an aneurysm repairprocedure, a cerebral surgical procedure, a renal procedure or a hepaticsurgical procedure.
 11. The method for claim 5, further comprising:inflating a peritoneal cavity so as to expand an exposed surface area ofa peritoneal cavity organ; and flowing the hypothermic fluid over theexposed surface area of the peritoneal cavity organ so as to exchangeheat or gas with a peritoneal cavity organ.
 12. The method for claim 5,wherein the infusion member is advanced using an advancement memberpositioned within the infusion member.
 13. The method for claim 12,further comprising: removing the advancement member once the infusionmember has been positioned in the peritoneal cavity.
 14. The method forclaim 5, wherein a temperature of the solution is in the range of 10 to20° C.
 15. The method for claim 5, wherein the selected temperature isin the range of about 20 to 35° C.
 16. The method for claim 5, whereinthe infusion comprises infusing a bolus of solution.
 17. The method forclaim 16, wherein a volume of the bolus is in the range of about 0.5 to3 liters.
 18. The method for claim 16, wherein the infusion furthercomprises infusing fluid at a controlled rate after completion of thebolus infusion.
 19. The method for claim 18, wherein the controlled rateis controlled to maintain the core temperature of the patient at ahypothermic level.
 20. The method for claim 5, wherein at least one ofthe rate or volume of infusate is configured to increase a mean patientblood pressure.
 21. The method for claim 5, wherein the infusionparameter is at least one of a flow rate, a pressure, a total infusedvolume, an inflow duty cycle or a hypothermic solution temperature. 22.The method for claim 5, wherein the selected location is at least one ofa tympanic membrane, an intravenous site, an epidermal site, asubcutaneous site or an oral site.
 23. The method for claim 5, whereinthe selected location includes a plurality of locations and themonitored temperature comprises a composite temperature from theplurality of locations.
 24. The method for claim 5, wherein the infusateis infused using a driving force from at least one of a compressed gassource, a gravitational head pressure or a pump.
 25. The method forclaim 24, wherein the compressed gas source is an oxygen source which isconfigured to oxygenate the infusate solution.
 26. The method for claim5, further comprising: determining an entry point of the infusion memberinto the peritoneal cavity utilizing a sensor output.
 27. The method forclaim 426, wherein the entry point is determined by monitoring a flowrate of infusate solution into the peritoneal cavity.
 28. The method forclaim 26, further comprising: signaling an entry point event to amedical practioner performing the method.
 29. The method for claim 5,wherein the depth of insertion of the access device into the peritonealcavity is controlled.
 30. The method for claim 29, wherein the insertiondepth is controlled through use of a stop positioned on the accessdevice.
 31. The method for claim 5, further comprising: monitoring apressure within the peritoneal cavity or the infusion member; andtitrating the infusate flow rate responsive to the monitored pressure.32. The method for claim 31, wherein the monitored pressure is utilizedto prevent over-filling of the peritoneal cavity.
 33. The method forclaim 31, wherein the infusate flow rate is titrated responsive to themonitored pressure exceeding a threshold or a rate of increase.
 34. Themethod for claim 5, wherein the access device has a tissue penetratingconfiguration and a non-tissue penetrating safety configuration.
 35. Themethod for claim 34, wherein the access device assumes the safetyconfiguration after insertion through the abdominal wall.
 36. The methodfor claim 34, wherein the access device includes a slidable sheath thatslides over a tissue penetrating portion of the introducer to achievethe safety configuration.
 37. The method for claim 34, wherein theaccess device includes a shearable issue penetrating portion which whensheared assumes the safety configuration.
 38. The method for claim 34,wherein the safety configuration is achieved by pressurizing the accessdevice.
 39. The method for claim 32, further comprising: inserting theaccess device through tissue in the tissue penetrating configuration;and converting to the safety configuration when a distal portion of theaccess device penetrates the distal side of the abdominal wall.
 40. Themethod for claim 5, further comprising: withdrawing at least a portionof the infusate from the peritoneal cavity.
 41. The method for claim 40,further comprising: utilizing the withdrawn solution as a heat sink forcooling the infusate solution infused into the peritoneal cavity. 42.The method for claim 41, wherein cooling is performed using a peltiereffect device.
 43. The method for claim 40, wherein the infusate iswithdrawn using a vacuum pressure.
 44. The method for claim 40, whereinthe infusate is withdrawn at the same access point in the abdominal wallused for infusion.
 45. The method for claim 40, wherein the infusate iswithdrawn responsive to at least one of an infusion inflow rate, aperitoneal pressure, or a peritoneal temperature.
 46. The method forclaim 40, wherein at least one of the infusion or withdrawal of theinfusate is pulsated.
 47. The method for claim 40, wherein the pulsationis synchronized to a heart rate or a respiration rate.
 48. The methodfor claim 40, wherein the infusion and the withdrawal of the infusateare performed in substantially sequential periods.
 49. The method forclaim 40, wherein the duration and waveform of the infusion withdrawalare configured to optimize at least one of heat transfer with theperitoneal organs, rate of body cooling to a selected core temperature,maintenance of body core temperature at the selected temperature andoxygenation of the peritoneal organs.
 50. The method for claim 46,wherein there is an interval between each period of infusion andwithdrawal.
 51. The method for claim 5, further comprising: oxygenatingthe infusate solution before infusion into the patient.
 52. The methodfor claim 51, further comprising: utilizing the infusate solution todiffuse sufficient oxygen through the peritoneal tissue to at leastpartially meet the oxygen requirements of the patient.
 53. The methodfor claim 51, wherein the infusate solution comprises a fluorocarbon.54. An apparatus for accessing and introducing fluids into a peritonealcavity of a patient for producing hypothermia, the apparatus comprising:an access device configured to be inserted into subcutaneous tissue, thedevice including a lumen, a proximal end, a tissue penetrating distalend and a stop, the stop configured to control the penetration depth ofthe distal tip into tissue; an infusion member positioned within a lumenof the access device and advanceable into the peritoneal cavity, theinfusion member including a first lumen and a second lumen for theinfusion and removal of fluid into and out of the peritoneal cavity; theinfusion member having a tissue penetrating distal end; and anadvancement member removably positionable in at least one of the twolumens, the advancement member having sufficient column strength toadvance the infusion member through abdominal wall tissue and into theperitoneal cavity by manipulation of a proximal portion of the infusionmember or the advancement member.
 55. The apparatus of claim 54, whereinthe distal tip is sufficiently flexible to be substantially atraumaticwhen the advancement member is removed from the infusion member.
 56. Theapparatus of claim 54, wherein the first or second lumen is sized todeliver sufficient fluid to the cavity to reduce patient bodytemperature by at least about 3° C. through heat exchange withperitoneal tissue.
 57. The apparatus of claim 54, wherein the distal endof the access device is configured to be shearable through theapplication of a force applied to an internal wall of the distal tip,the sheared distal end having a non-tissue penetrating configuration.58. The apparatus of claim 57, wherein the advancement member hassufficient column strength to advance the infusion member into thedistal end of the access device to shear the distal end of the accessdevice.
 59. The apparatus of claim 54, wherein the first lumen isconfigured for infusion of fluid into the peritoneal cavity and thesecond lumen is configured for removal of fluid from the cavity.
 60. Theapparatus of claim 59, wherein the infusion member includes at least oneaperture positioned on a wall of the infusion member.
 61. The apparatusof claim 60, wherein the at least one aperture opens to the secondlumen.
 62. The apparatus of claim 60, wherein the at least one apertureincludes a plurality of apertures distributed along a distal portion ofthe infusion member.
 63. The apparatus of claim 60, wherein the at leastone aperture opens to the first lumen.
 64. The apparatus of claim 63,wherein the at least one aperture is positioned to reduce an incidenceof tissue obstruction during advancement of the infusion member.
 65. Theapparatus of claim 63, wherein the at least one aperture is protectedfrom tissue obstruction during advancement of the infusion member by abarrier coupled to the infusion member.
 66. The apparatus of claim 54,wherein a proximal portion of the advancement member includes a handle.67. The apparatus of claim 54, wherein the advancement member is a rod,a metal rod or a guide-wire.
 68. The apparatus of claim 54, wherein aproximal portion of the infusion member includes at least one fittingconfigured to be coupled to at least one of a liquid, gas or vacuumsource.
 69. The apparatus of claim 54, wherein a proximal portion of theadvancement member includes a handle.
 70. The apparatus of claim 54,wherein the first lumen extends through to a distal end of the infusionmember and the second lumen is closed at the distal end of the infusionlumen.
 71. The apparatus of claim 54, further comprising a valvepositioned at a proximal portion of the infusion member, the valvehaving an opening for insertion of an advancement member, the openingconfigured to tighten and form a fluidic seal around the advancementmember.
 72. The apparatus of claim 54, wherein the stop comprises aflange, a flange circumscribing a perimeter of the access device, or apair of opposing flanges.
 73. The apparatus of claim 54, wherein thestop includes at least one of a suture site or an adhesive surfaceportion, the adhesive surface portion having sufficient area tolaterally stabilize the access device on the abdominal surface.
 74. Theapparatus of claim 54, wherein the infusion member is a catheter, a duallumen catheter or a multi-lumen catheter.
 75. The apparatus of claim 54,further comprising a sensor positioned at a distal portion of theinfusion member or the access device.
 76. The apparatus of claim 54,wherein the sensor is a temperature, pressure or flow sensor.
 77. Theapparatus of claim 54, wherein the sensor generates a signal indicatingentry of a distal portion of the infusion member into the peritonealcavity.
 78. The apparatus of claim 54, wherein the signal is a pressureor a flow signal.
 79. The apparatus of claim 54, further comprising amemory resource device coupled to the apparatus, the memory resourcedevice including a control module for controlling the temperature andinfusion and removal of fluid to and from the peritoneal cavity toproduce a selected hypothermic profile to treat a medical condition,wherein the memory resource device interfaces with an external device.80. The apparatus of claim 79, wherein the memory resource device is aflash memory device or a non-volatile memory device.
 81. The apparatusof claim 79, wherein the external device is an external station or atemperature or flow control device.
 82. The apparatus of claim 79,wherein the hypothermic profile includes a rate of cooling and aselected hypothermic temperature.
 83. The apparatus of claim 79, whereinthe hypothermic profile is configured to treat one of a coronary,cerebral or tissue extremity ischemic event.
 84. An apparatus foraccessing and introducing fluids into a peritoneal cavity of a patientfor producing hypothermia, the apparatus comprising: an access deviceconfigured to be inserted through the abdominal wall and into theperitoneal cavity, the device including a lumen, a proximal and distalend, the distal end having a tissue penetrating configuration and anon-tissue penetrating safety configuration; the device transformable tothe safety configuration upon penetration through an abdominal wall; andan infusion member positionable within a lumen of the access device andadvanceable into the peritoneal cavity, the infusion member including atleast one lumen for the infusion or removal of fluid into or out of theperitoneal cavity; the lumen sized to deliver sufficient fluid to thecavity to reduce patient body temperature by at least about 3° C.through heat exchange with peritoneal tissue.
 85. The apparatus of claim84, wherein the at least one lumen comprises a first and a second lumen,the first lumen for infusion of fluid into the peritoneal cavity and thesecond lumen for removal of fluid from the cavity.
 86. The apparatus ofclaim 85, wherein the infusion member includes at least one aperturepositioned on a wall of the infusion member.
 87. The apparatus of claim86, wherein the at least one aperture opens to the second lumen.
 88. Theapparatus of claim 86, wherein the at least one aperture includes aplurality of apertures distributed along a distal portion of theinfusion member.
 89. The apparatus of claim 84, further comprising: anadvancement member removably positionable in the at least one lumen, theadvancement member having sufficient column strength to advance theperfusion member into the peritoneal cavity from manipulation of aproximal portion of the advancement member.
 90. The apparatus of claim89, wherein a proximal portion of the advancement member includes ahandle.
 91. The apparatus of claim 89, wherein the advancement memberhas sufficient column strength to advance the infusion member through aclosed distal end portion of the access device.
 92. The apparatus ofclaim 84, further comprising a valve positioned at a proximal portion ofthe infusion member, the valve having an opening for insertion of anadvancement member, the opening configured to tighten and form a fluidicseal around the advancement member.
 93. The apparatus of claim 84,further comprising a stop positioned on an exterior surface of theaccess device, the stop configured to control a penetration depth of theaccess device into the peritoneal cavity.
 94. The apparatus of claim 93,wherein the stop includes at least one of a suture site or an adhesivesurface portion, the adhesive surface portion having sufficient area tolaterally stabilize the access device on the abdominal surface.
 95. Theapparatus of claim 84, further comprising a sensor positioned at adistal portion of the infusion member or the access device.
 96. Theapparatus of claim 95, wherein the sensor is configured to provide aninput for regulating fluid flow through the infusion member anddetecting entry of the infusion member into the peritoneal cavity.
 97. Asystem for producing hypothermia in a patient, the system comprising: anaccess device configured to be inserted through the abdominal wall andinto the peritoneal cavity, the device including a lumen, a proximal anddistal end, the distal end having a tissue penetrating configuration anda non-tissue penetrating safety configuration; an infusion memberpositionable within a lumen of the access device and advanceable intothe peritoneal cavity, the infusion member including at least one lumenfor the infusion or removal of fluid into or out of the peritonealcavity; a fluid reservoir operatively coupled to the infusion member; apressure source for delivering fluid from the reservoir through theinfusion member and into the peritoneal cavity, the pressure sourceoperatively coupled to the reservoir; a vacuum source for removing fluidfrom the peritoneal cavity, the vacuum source operatively coupled to theinfusion member; at least one sensor operatively coupled to at least oneof the pressure source, the vacuum source or the infusion member; and acontrol unit for controlling the infusion of fluid into the peritonealcavity, the control unit operatively coupled to at least one of thepressure source, the vacuum source, the infusion member or the at leastone sensor.
 98. The system of claim 97, wherein the access device istransformable to the safety configuration upon penetration through anabdominal wall.
 99. The system of claim 97, wherein the infusion memberis a catheter, a dual lumen catheter or a multi-lumen catheter.
 100. Thesystem of claim 97, wherein the at least one lumen includes a firstlumen for the infusion of fluid into peritoneal cavity, and a secondlumen for the removal of fluid from the cavity.
 101. The system of claim100, wherein the infusion member includes a plurality of aperturescoupled to at least one of the first or the second lumens.
 102. Thesystem of claim 97, wherein the pressure source is a compressed gassource, an oxygen pressure source, a compressed oxygen source, a pump ora gravity generated pressure source.
 103. The system of claim 97,wherein the pressure source is an oxygen pressure source configured tooxygenate fluid from the fluid reservoir.
 104. The system of claim 103,further comprising an oxygenation device operatively coupled to anoxygen pressure source.
 105. The system of claim 97, further comprisingat least one valve operatively coupled to at least one of the infusionmember, the pressure source, the vacuum source or the fluid reservoir.106. The system of claim 105, wherein the at least one valve isoperatively coupled to the control unit and one of the infusion memberor the pressure source, the valve configured to control fluid flow intoor from the peritoneal cavity, responsive to a signal from the controlunit.
 107. The system of claim 105, wherein the at least one valve is acontrol valve or an electronic control valve.
 108. The system of claim105, wherein the at least one valve is controlled in response to asignal from the at least one sensor
 109. The apparatus of claim 97,wherein the sensor generates a signal indicating entry of a distalportion of the infusion member into the peritoneal cavity.
 110. Thesystem of claim 97, wherein the at least one sensor is a temperaturesensor positioned on the infusion member and operatively coupled to thecontrol unit, the sensor configured to measure at least one of aperitoneal cavity temperature or a temperature of fluid existing theinfusion member.
 111. The system of claim 97, wherein the at least onesensor is a temperature sensor positioned on a fluid reservoir andoperatively coupled to the control unit.
 112. The system of claim 105,wherein the at least one sensor is a pressure sensor positioned on theinfusion member and operatively coupled to the control unit, the sensorconfigured to measure at least one of a pressure in the infusion memberor a pressure in the peritoneal cavity.
 113. The system of claim 105,further comprising a cooling device or a peltier cooling deviceoperatively coupled to the fluid reservoir or the infusion member. 114.The system of claim 105, wherein the cooling device is a peltier devicehaving a cooling surface operatively coupled to the fluid reservoir orthe infusion member and a heat release surface operatively coupled tofluid that has existed from the peritoneal cavity.
 115. The system ofclaim 105, wherein the control unit includes a software module forcontrolling the inflow and outflow of fluid from the peritoneal cavity.116. The system of claim 105, wherein the module includes an inflow andoutflow duty cycle algorithm.
 117. The system of claim 105, wherein theduty cycle algorithm is configured to produce pulsatile inflow andoutflow of fluid to enhance heat and gas exchange with peritoneal cavitytissue.
 118. A system for delivering fluids to a tissue cavity of apatient, the system comprising: a fluid reservoir configured to becoupled to an infusion member; a pressure source for delivering fluidfrom the fluid reservoir through the infusion member and into the tissuecavity; the pressure source operatively coupled to the reservoir; avacuum source for removing fluid from the cavity, the vacuum sourceconfigured to be coupled to the infusion member; at least one sensoroperatively coupled to at least one of the reservoir, the pressuresource or the vacuum source; and a control unit operatively coupled toat least one of the pressure source, the vacuum source or the at leastone sensor and configured to be coupled to the infusion member, thecontrol unit configured to control the infusion of fluid into the tissuecavity responsive to an input from the least one at least one sensor tocontrol a temperature and pressure within the cavity for the delivery ofa medical treatment utilizing at least one heat or mass transfercharacteristic of the infused fluid.
 119. The system of claim 118,wherein the at least one sensor is a pressure sensor or a temperaturesensor.
 120. The system of claim 118, wherein the treatment is ahypothermic or resuscitative treatment.
 121. The system of claim 118,wherein the control unit is configured to signal an entry point of theinfusion member into the tissue cavity and to